An off-duty police officer needed hospital treatment after he was attacked as a teenage gang tried to force their way into his daughter’s birthday party at the family’s Bingley home.

Police were called to Falcon Road following a report of a fracas caused by some gang members attempting to gatecrash the party.

One resident told of how up to 20 teenagers, all thought to have been boys, converged on the quiet, leafy street at around 10pm during a teenage girl’s party in the back garden of her home.

Some of the youths were seen drinking from bottles and there was a confrontation on the doorstep of a semi-detached house set back from the road, after the girl’s father opened the door to speak to them.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said: “They were having a party and there were no problems whatsoever. There was a marquee in the back and music playing and then these lads turned up to cause bother.

“There was lots of shouting and cursing and they looked like they were drinking out of bottles.

“The father opened the door and spoke to them. I believe they knocked him down and the next minute the police came. We just don’t get anything like that happening round here.

Two boys, aged 14 and 15, have been arrested in connection with the incident and have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The family of the off-duty officer did not want to comment on what had happened.

Witnesses or anyone with any information about the incident, which occurred shortly before 10.15pm on Friday should contact Airedale and North Bradford CID via 0845 6060606.